Dental articulator.



R. E. HALL,

DENTAL ARTICULATOH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR: 30. 1912.

Patented July 2, 1918.

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R. E. HALL.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

APPLICATION man MAR. 30. mm.

Patented July 2, 1918.

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LQ'Y'LlL HEM anbamtoz Rupert E. Hall,

\R. E. HALL- DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

A LICATION FILED MAR. 30 NE]?- 1 71,161, Patented July 2,1918

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' Rape? E. Hail,

RUPERT E. HALL, (I)? FHILAIDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DENTAL ABTICULATOR.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Ap lication filed March 30, 191?. Serial No. 158,5i8.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bursar E. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Den- .tal Articulators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates particularly to that class of devices which are commonly known "articulators, and which are adapted to support sets of artificial teeth in such relation that they may be relatively moved 'so as to simulate the natural masticatory movements of the teeth carried by the human jaw.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a dental articulator comprising mechanism that will not only reproduce with precision the natural relative mastic-story movements of the human jaw, but which may be so adjusted as to accurately coincide ,with the measurements and conditions that.

may be found in each individual patient.

Other objects of my invention are, to provide means for relatively shifting the jaw model holders longitudinally to produce any desired degree of overbite; to provide means whereby the jaw, models may be hingedly moved toward and from each other, and to provide means for guiding'said movements in predetermined angles with respect to the occlusal plane. I

My invention further con'iprehends means arranged to establish the correct triangular or anatomical relation of the casts or jaw models to the external occipital protuberance and the glenoid fossa Specifically stated the form of my invention as hereinafter described comprises upper and lower jaw model holders hingcdly connected, and arranged to be'relatively moved about an axis oblique to the occlusal plane. and includes means wherel'iy said oh lique axis may be variably disposed at different angles with respect to said occlusal plane.

My invention also includes all of the various novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more definitely described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a plan view of'an articulator constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2,

is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of said articulator, taken on t-heline -2j2 in Fi 1, certain parts being shown in elevation or convenience of illustration; Fig. 3, is a front elevational view of the articulator shown in Figs.-1 and 2; Fig. 4, is a perspective viewv of the jig shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, adapted to determine the posit-ion of the jaw models in said articulator; Fig. 5, is a sectional view taken. 011-" r line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6, is a plan View of a modified form of articulator; and Fig. 7 is a side elevationalview of the articulator shown in Fig. 6. i

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the base 1, has the laterally extended feet 2, the forwardly extended bracket. 3, ed standard terminating spaced bearing hl gs 6, hinge-shaft 7 extends. a The bracket 3, serves to slidably support the inner end of the lower jaw model holder 5), which is provided near its forward end with the supporting leg 10, and which is arranged to ,be,adjusted longitudinally toward and away from .the standard 5, by the adjusting screw. 12, which is in threaded engagement with iaid jawm del holder 9,,and loosely extends through the standard The shank 13 of the adjusting screw 12 is provided with the knurled head 15 and the collar 16 forming shoulders which bear upon the opposite sidespf the standard 5 and prevent the axial screw 12, so that when rotated the lower jaw model holder 9. will be shifted thereby longitndii'iallv with rcs 'iect to the base 1. v

The l'iingeshaft T hingedly carries the upwardly and rcarwardly inclined bearing support 17 which is provided with the stop lug 19 arranged to engage the standard 5 to limit its opening u'iovemcnt and has the bearing head 20 at its free end. Said support 17 carries the upper jaw model holder 21 which provided with a trunnion 22 rotatably mounted in the bearing head 20, with its axis disposed in oblique relation to the plane of occlusion of the-jaw models which may be carried by the articulator.

The trunnion :22 is prevented from accidental displacemcnt from the bearing head 20 by the nut 23 which is in threaded engagement with the threaded extension 25 in relatively through which the Patented Juiy a, tats.

movement of the adjusting and the upwardly extendorder that the nut 23 me projecting axially from the trunnion 522. in not be i-LCClllfii'k tally loosened by the oscillation of the trunnion in its hearing, a washer is interposed between said nut 23 andthe or said.

bearing, and the trunnion EZQprovided with projections 27 extending into corresponding apertures in the washer whereby said washer is caused to be oscillated with said trunnion.

The jaw model holders 9 and .Blmaybe prevented from relative lateral movements by the" set screw 29, which extends through the bearing head 20, in threaded engagement therewith and is arranged to project into a suitably provided recess 30 in the cylindrical wall of'said trunnion, with which itmay be engaged or disengaged by rotation of its knurled head 31. p

The lower jaw model holder 9 is provided with the removably mounted jaw model mountinu 32 removably secured thereto by the thunib screw 33 having the knurled head 35, and prevented from accidental rotation by the dowel pin 36 which extends into e suitably provided aperture in tlie inountl'ng and maintains said mounting in proper alinement with the longitudinal axis of the articulator.

The upper jaw model holder 21 is similarly provided with the removably mounted jarv model mounting 37 removably secured thereto by the thumb screw 39 having the knurled head %0, and prevented from rota tion thereon by the dowel pin il.

It will be seen that the opposed jaw models that may be carried by the respective jaw model holders 9 and 21 may be relatively moved laterally about the inclined axis of the trunnion 22. and that they may be separated or caused to approach by swinging upon the axis of the hinge shatt 7, this affords a compound relative movement of the jaws models.

In order that this compound movement shall be in uniform path a guide 4:2 is provided, which is removably mounted upon the lower jaw model holder 9 and comprises the longitudinally extended V-shaped trough formed by upwardly diverging wings 43 respectively disposed at a predetermined angle i to the medial longitudinal plane of the articulator.

The walls of the trough formed by the wings -13 serve to guide the free end of the dopei'uling pin 45 which is adjustably mounted in and normally supports the up per jaw model holder 21., with its free end resting in the bottom of the [rough as shown in the drawings, it being noted that any movement laterally of the upper aw model holder 21 necessitates the codpcration of the pin 4.5 with said walls. This it. will be seen effects a natural chewing action and insures the grinding of the teeth cusps to the angle best adapted for mastication.

\ refiner the lowc jaw model holder 9 by a dove-tail:

connection comprising a longitudinally extended laterally undercut rib 46 fitting into a corresponding slot 47 in the bottom of said guide. The guide 42 is arranged to be on gaged with the lower jaw model holder l) by sliding il inwardly from the front and may be secured thereto by the set screw 49, as best shown in Fig. 2; and said guide may conveniently be replaced by'other guides whose wings bear a difi crent angular relation.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pin 45 has a knurled head 50 adjoining its threaded upper portion 51., and extends in threaded engagement through the boss 52 on the outer extremity of the upper jaw model holder 21.

-Said boss as shown in Fig. 3, is proto receive the knurled nut which when rotated thereon to drive it in the direction of increasing diameter tends to bind said boss upon the pin 45 and thereby securely hold it against accidental displacement.

It may be desirable under certain conditions to either retract or advance the pin 45, but it is highly advantageous that its normal position be readily determined, and for this purpose a stop is provided in the form of a thumb screw 56 whose knurled head 57 normally extends into the path of the head 50 of the pin 45, to form a stop therefor but said head 5'? as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is cut away to provide a flat side 59 which when presented in the direction of the pin 45 permits the head 50 of said pin 45 to freely pass.

It may be here noted that there has been found some variation in the human skull so that in some instances it may be desirable to ingtbe bite in proper position while the jaw models are being built up to join the jaw model mountings. his has becncuccomplished heretofore with only a limited degree of accuracy, by a device goncrallv known as a face-bow.

The jig comprises a post (30 extending upwardly from the supporting plate 61 which 7 is arranged to rest upon the lower jaw model holder 9 and from which the depending low 1 g 10. Said plate is also provided with dowel pins '65 which extend into .suitable apertures-in said lower jaw model holder 9,

"upper end of and prevent the rotation of said post. The the post 60 carries the bite model supporting bar 66, which is bowed in clsive point, and the the plane of occlusion of said bite model, and hasthe central or medial pointed pin 67 for engaging said bite model at the central in pointed thumb-screws .69 in threaded engagement with the free ends of said bar 66, arranged to be advanced and retracted to engage and disengage the inner part of said bite model.

As clearly illustrated the bar 66, is provided with a series of threaded apertures 70 for the reception of the thumb screws 69 so that denture models of varying sizes and forms may be conveniently supported by the re- I In the operation of thedevice the wax bite having been taken and the occlusal plane been determined and indicated thereon it is extended feet 72 and .model holder able upon the" the hub 76,

mounted on the jig and said jig set in the position shown in the drawings, whereupon the plaster models may be'built up to engage the jaw model the lower and upper whereupon said jig In theform of Figs. i and? the may be withdrawn.

my invention shown in base the rearwardly inclined support 73 terminating in a bearing head comprising the spaced bearing lugs 75 between which the hub 76 of the upper jaw support is rotatably adjustshaft 77 and securely engaged 111 set position by the nuts i' the position being determined by the pointer 80 on the bearing lugs T-l'and the graduations 82 on as best sliown in Fig. 7. By this means the angle of the axis of the pivotal bearing to be hereinafter described, may

e variedj -The lower jaw model holder 83 has the supporting leg 8% and the upwardly and rearwgu-dly inclined arms 85 whose free ends are pivotally connected with opposite ends. the lower bifurcations 8T having a series of apertures 88 disposed longitudinally thereof and arranged to respectivcly register with a series of similar apertures H!) in the base relation so that said link 86 may be adjusted either forward or backward and engaged with-,t|ie base by the retaining pin 90.

This adjustment is for the purpose of yarying the size of the articulator to accommodate dentures of." varying size, and in order to preset vc the triangular relation that is known to be present insthe human skull between the glenoid fosste. the occipital protuberance and the central-"incisal point, the

{with the standard 95.

mountings 32 and 37 for, jaw models respectively,

71 has the laterally the uprigbb connecting link 86 which is bifurcated at its but disposed in inclined upwardly extending bifurcations 91 at the I ;such as the device commonly known as a face-bow. the condyle points thereof being inserted in the aperture 92 which corresponds with the registered apertures 88 and 89 in the bifurcations 87. and base 71.

j The connecting link 86 is connected with the support 73 by the spring 93 which tendsto draw said bar 86 against the ad usting screw 94: which is in threaded engagement By this arrangement, 1t will be noted that the lower jaw model may be extended and retracted in opposition to the spring 93, either manually .or by the ad 'usting screw 94.

The hub 76 of the upper jaw model holder support is provided with a bearing boss 96, providing a bearing whose axis is inclined to the occlusal plane and capable of adjustment as above described to vary the angle of inclination.

Said bearing boss 96 oscillatably carries the upper jaw model holder support 97 which is rotatably attacl'ied-thereto by the tap bolt 98 in threaded engagenmnt' with the bearing boss 96.

he upper jaw model holder support 97 hingedlycarries the upper jaw model holder 99 which is hingedly connected therewith by the hinge bolt 100. andwhich carries the upp r jaw model mounting 101 in opposi-' tion tothe lower jaw model'n'iounting 102 on the lower jaw model holder.

Although for opening the jaw models for inspection. it is to be understood that in the operation of the device. said hinge bolt 100 is to be tightened as to maintain and the upper jawinodel holder 99 rclatively rigid. so that the relative vertical movement of the jaw models will be about the pivotal axis 81. This as will be readily observed will necessarily cause a rocking action of the base 71, which is curved rearwardly upward to afford a heel upon which it may rock.

In view of the fact that the lower jaw model holder83 is longitudinally adjustable. and that it is essential thatpthe jaw model mountings should be in registry/(the upper jaw model holder 9!). is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 103, through which the set-screw lUi extends and may travel to longitudinally adjust the upthe support 7 to limit my invention to ltd parting from the ention donned v is appends: claims. V loving thus described my invention, 1

- clai 1. A dental articulator comprising a lower jaw model holder, an upper jaw model holder pivotally connected therewith on an inclined with respect to the plane of occlusion, and means adjustable to vary the,

, holder pivotally connected therewith and arranged to oscillate with the medial point of the upper jaw model, describing a geodesic line about the surface of a. cone, and means arranged to vary the angle of inclination of the axis of relative movement.

4. A. dental articulator comprising upper and lowe' jaw model holders, a hinge joint interposed between said j aw model holders,

a pivotal support for said upper jaw model holder, whereby it may be laterally oscillatedflupon an inclined axis whose angle of inclination maybe 'aried about the axis of said hinge joint.

5. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model holders, a hinge joint interposed between said jaw model holder. having its axis substantially inlhe occlusal plane, a pivotal connection between said jaw .model holders, whereby they may be laterally oscillated upon an inclined axis whose anglecf inclination may be varied about the axis of said hinge joint.

6; A. dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model holders, a pivotal con.- nection betweensaid jaw model. holders having its axis inclined Wltll'l'ESPEiCt to the plane of occlusion, means to vary the angle of inclination of said axis, and means adjust-able to vary the longitudinal relation of said jaw model holders.

7. A dental articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model holders, a hinge joint interposed between said jaw model holders upon which they may be separated, a pivotal connection whereby they may be relatively oscillated upon. an adjustable aXlS inclined to the occlusalplane, a guide on said lower jaw model holder comprising diverging wings, and means depending from said upper jaw model holder, cooperative wilh said guide to vary the inclination of said axis, and determine the relative movement of said jaw' model holders.

8. A dental artioulator comprising upper and lower aw model holders, a hinge joint of said axis, and determine the relative movement of said jaw model holders.

9. A. dental articulator comprising upper and. lower jaw model holders, a hinge joint interposed between said jaw model holders upon which they may be separated, pivoted connection whereby they may be relatively oscillated upon an inclined axis adjusl-uliile to Vary its angle of inclination to the occlusal plane, a guide reinovably connected with the lower model holder, and a pin on operative with said guide to direct the relative movements of said jaw model holders.

10. An. articulator comprising a base having a standard and forwardly extended bracket, a lower jaw model holder having its inner end slidably supported by said bracket, an adjusting screw rotatably mounted in said base and arranged to advance and retract said lower jaw model holder, a bearing member hingedly carried by said stand ard, and an upper jaw model holder pivotally carried by said bearing member on an axis oblique to the occlusal plane. I

11. Au articulator comprising a base having a standard, a lower jaw model holder supported by said ba .2, means arranged to advance and retract said holder with respect to said base, a. bearing member hingcdly carried by said standard and an upper jaw model holder pivotally supported by said member, to oscillate about an axis inclined to the occlusal plane.

An articulator comprising a, base having: a standard, a lower jaw model holder supported by said base, means arranged to advance an d retract said holder with respect to said base, a bearing member hingedly carried by said. standard and an upper jaw model holder pivot/ally supported by said mei'nbor, to oscillate about an axis inclined to the occlusal plane, and means arranged to lock said upper jaw model holder in rigid relation with said bearing member.

13. An articulator comprising upper and lower jaw model holders arranged to separate upon a horizontal axis disposed substantially in the occlusal plane, andcapable of relative oscillation on an axis oblique to the occlusal plane, a guide carried by the lower jaw model holder, and a pin adjustably carricd by said upper jaw model holder, co,- operative with said guide to direct the relative movements of said aw model holders.

ll. An articulator comprisiii" upper and lower jaw model holders arrangedito sepahaw-mm tive movements of said s mmer rate upon a horizontal axis and capable of relative oscillation on an axis oblique to the occlusal plane, a guide carried by the lower jaw model holder, and a pin adjust/ably carried by said upper jaw model holder, cooperative with said guide to direct the rela -tive movements of said jaw model holders,

and a stop arranged to limit the adjustment of said pin.

15. An articulatorcomprising upper and lower jaw model holders arranged to separate upon a horizontal axis and capable of relative oscillation on an axis oblique to the occlusal plane, a guide carried by the lower jaw model holder, and a pin adjustably earried by said upper jaw model holder, (20- operative with said guide to direct the rela- I jaw model holders, and a stop arranged to limit the adjustment of said pin when in one position, said stop alternatn'e position being rotatable to an free of said pin.

16. An articulato'r having upper and lower jaw model holders, and a 1g arranged to accurately determine the position of the jaw models and tohold them while being attached to said jaw model holders, comprising a post detachably supported by the lower jaw model holder, and a bowed supporting points disposed in the bar having a plurality of model supporting plane of occlusion. 17. An artieulator having upper and lower jaw model holders, and a jig arranged to determine the comprising a post removably supported by said lower jaw model holder, a supporting bar carried by said post", bdwed in the oen witness whereof, I have hereunto set position of the jaw models,

my hand this 28th day of March, A. D. 1917. i

' RUPERT E. HALL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. RUSSELL, V EDWARD F. SIMPSON, Jr. 

